Armed Forces

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the infantry rank of  (a) private and  (b) lieutenant corporal became classed as an operational pinch point trade; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The ranks of infantry private and lance corporal were added to the Pinch Point Register on 20 September 2007.

Armed Forces: Housing

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 18 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 1015-6W, on modern housing solutions: complaints, how many of the complaints made to Modern Housing Solutions originated in each region.

Kevan Jones: The requested information will take a little time to collate and verify. I will write to the hon. Member.

Defence Equipment: Lost Property

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many instances there were of spare parts lost in transit during each financial year since 2006-07; and what the monetary value was of the loss in each year.

Quentin Davies: Data on losses is not held in such a way that enables the separate identification of 'spare parts'.

Defence: Expenditure

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's budget for urgent operational requirements (UORs) was in each year since their inception; how much was spent on UORs in each such year; what the  (a) budget for and  (b) projected expenditure on UORs is for each year to 2011-12; and how much (i) has been repaid and (ii) is projected to be repaid to HM Treasury in respect of UORs in each such year.

John Hutton: holding answer 24 April 2009
	 Urgent Operational Requirements (UORs) are, in most cases, funded from outside of the Defence budget through access the Treasury Reserve. As such the "budget" for UORs is not a limit, but an agreed estimate which has been established in the last two years in order to assist with planning. For the last financial year (2008-09), that estimate was set at £900 million (with facility to roll over committed spend which had not accrued in the previous year), and for this financial year (2009-10) the estimate currently stands at £635 million (with an expected spend from the Reserve of £424 million on the protected mobility package agreed separately).
	Given the urgent and operationally-driven nature of UORs it is not possible to generate long-term estimates with any accuracy and thus no estimates have been made for spend beyond this financial year. For historic expenditure I refer the hon. Member to the answer given in another place by my noble Friend Baroness Taylor of Bolton on 24 March 2009,  Official Report,  House of Lords, columns WA107-08, to the noble Lord Dr. Moonie. To date no repayments have been made to the Treasury in respect of UORs. Beyond the specific arrangements described in the answer of 12 January 2009,  Official Report, column 99W, by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Davies), to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox), no repayments are currently planned.

Departmental Training

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 20 April 2009,  Official Report, column 63W, on departmental training, what training sessions were provided to Ministers in order for them to carry out their duties effectively under the Ministerial Code; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 5 November 2008,  Official Report, column 483W, and 11 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1994W, to the hon. Member for Hammersmith and Fulham (Mr. Hands). Recent MOD Ministers' training has been mandatory pre-deployment training in preparation for visits to Iraq and Afghanistan.

NATO

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 20 April 2009,  Official Report, columns 3-4WS, on the NATO Summit, what proposed steps are included in the UK proposal to establish an Alliance Solidarity Force; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The UK put forward the idea of an Alliance Solidarity Force as a tangible demonstration of NATO's determination to deter aggression at short notice against any of its allies. The proposal is that, within the wider NATO Response Force, there should be a small, about 1,500 strong, rapidly deployable multinational task force with a dedicated collective defence role. This proposal is currently being written by NATO for further consideration by allies.

Climate Change: Finance

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of his Department's expenditure on climate change adaptation measures in 2008-09.

Jane Kennedy: DEFRA delivers the 'Adapting to Climate Change Programme', which is a cross-Government programme which aims to help society adapt to climate change. The role of the programme is to develop and provide a comprehensive evidence base including adaptation tools, to raise awareness of the need to adapt, to measure success and to work across Government at all levels to embed adaptation.
	Measuring adapting to climate change in expenditure does not give a full picture, it is also about encouraging behaviour change and increasing resilience to risk which does not always involve additional expenditure.
	DEFRA and DECC jointly fund the Hadley Centre, we also fund the production the new UK Climate Projections, due to be launched in summer 2009.
	Adapting to climate change forms parts of many areas of DEFRA's work, it is not always possible to distinguish the costs associated with adaptation. In many cases it will be the way we do something that will help us adapt, rather than a specific project. So it is not possible accurately to estimate the total amount of expenditure on adaptation measures, for example in areas such as animal health, farming and protection of the environment.
	A range of other activities which DEFRA leads on will also help adapt to climate change. For example, the introduction of measures to assist communities in adapting to future risks from flooding and work arising from recommendations in the Pitt review. This comes from the central DEFRA budget so it is incorporated into a wider range of expenditure which deliver many benefits, not only on adaptation.

Farmers

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the number of  (a) hill and  (b) dairy farmers who will leave the industry in 2009.

Jane Kennedy: The Department has made no estimate of the number of hill farmers or dairy farmers that will leave the industry in 2009.

Farmers: Income

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated income of the  (a) farming and (b) dairy farming sector was in (i) 2006, (ii) 2007 and (iii) 2008.

Jane Kennedy: The estimated Farm Business Income(1) of  (a) all farm types and  (b) dairy farms for 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Average farm business income( 1 ) per farm 
			  £/farm 
			  Farm type  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09( 2) 
			 All farm types 34,400 48,100 44,300 
			 Dairy 30,800 55,100 72,800 
			 (1) Farm Business Income represents the financial return to all unpaid labour (farmers and spouses, non-principal partners and directors and their spouses and family workers) and on all their capital invested in the farm business, including land and buildings. (2 )Provisional  Note: Years ending in end-February  Source: Farm Business Survey

Fisheries: Western Sahara

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will seek an agreement with Polisario to allow UK vessels to fish the waters off Western Sahara following the declaration of an exclusive economic zone covering those waters.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The current EU/Morocco Fisheries Partnership agreement was signed in 2006 and sets out the terms for which UK and other European fishing vessels may fish in the waters off the coast of Western Sahara. The agreement does not prejudice the issue of the status of Western Sahara, which the UK regards as undetermined pending UN efforts to find a resolution, nor does it represent recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over the Maritime waters off Western Sahara.
	In the event that an Exclusive Economic Zone was declared, and internationally recognised, the EU would need to consider whether or not it wished to have an agreement with Western Sahara. If it was decided that no such agreement should be entered into, UK vessel owners would still be free to enter into private agreements with Western Sahara.

Waste Management

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the  (a) minutes,  (b) presentations and  (c) handouts from his Department's sixth Waste Strategy stakeholder group meeting.

Jane Kennedy: A copy of the minutes, presentations and handouts from the sixth Waste Stakeholder Group meeting has been placed in the Library.

Water: Pollution

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 15 September 2008,  Official Report, column 2033W, on bromine, when he expects to make a decision on the appeal relating to the Sandridge bromate contamination in Hertfordshire.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Further to the answer to the previous question on this issue, the Secretary of State made a provisional decision on the two appeals in November 2008. The proposed decision would result in changes to the remediation notice which is the subject of the appeals. A further round of consultation with the relevant parties was, therefore, initiated under the Contaminated Land Regulations 2006 which set out the legal framework in this area. This period of consultation has recently ended, and the Secretary of State is currently considering the responses received to determine whether these affect the proposed decision. If there is no change to the proposed decision, the Secretary of State would expect to issue the decision before the summer recess.

Wolves: Dogs

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the practice of breeding and keeping F3-generation wolfdogs with a high percentage of wolf DNA; what requirements there are to apply for a licence for such activity under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The keeping of wolves, and certain hybrids, is controlled under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 and licences to do so are required from local authorities who administer and enforce the 1976 Act.
	The 1976 Act contains no provisions relating to the breeding of wolf hybrids and there has been no assessment of such practice in this respect.
	The schedule, or list, of species requiring a licence under the 1976 Act was revised in 2007. The general entry for "mammal hybrids" was amended so as to ensure that keeping both first and second generation hybrids, including wolf hybrids, requires a licence. Third generation hybrids, or generations further removed, in this instance, from the original wolf content, do not require a licence.
	DEFRA and the RSPCA jointly funded research into the keeping of wolf-dog hybrids which was published in 2001. The contractors found that very few wolf-hybrids were kept and that advertisements for wolf-dogs were generally misleading and had been embellished to attract public interest and justify high prices.

Community Relations: Finance

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the oral answer of 21 April 2009,  Official Report, columns 140-41W, on violent extremism (prevention), when the Minister for Community Cohesion wrote to local authorities about the monitoring of preventing violent extremism funding.

Sadiq Khan: I wrote to local authorities who will receive prevent funding as part of their area-based grant between 2008-09 and 2010-11 on 12 February 2009.

Community Relations: Immigration

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what provision she has made in her Department's budget for the integration of migrants for the next six financial years.

Sadiq Khan: The Department for Communities and Local Government has budgeted £50 million in the period 2008-09 to 2010-11 to support integration and community cohesion and to assist local authorities in preventing and managing community tensions. This includes £7.5 million to develop inter-faith activity and £4.5 million to help schools and others offer positive activities for young people. CLG has also contributed £50,000 in start-up funding to help the East of England Development Agency develop an information portal to help migrants find out more about living and working in the UK.
	Communities and Local Government is also co-ordinating the allocation of the new cross-government Migration Impacts Fund. This will provide £35 million in 2009-10 to local services managing the transitional pressures of migration. It will be paid for through increases to migrant fees. Subject to a review in the autumn of the economic position and the migrant fees being received, a similar amount will be made available in 2010-11.
	Provision for 2011-12 and beyond will be determined by future Spending Reviews.

Equal Opportunities

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress her Department has made in improving the visibility of Black male role models since December 2007.

Sadiq Khan: The REACH report recommended that the Government should take action to improve the visibility of positive black male role models. The panel who wrote the REACH report envisioned a network of 20 national champions who would be used to challenge negative stereotyping, and support a network of black male role models in local communities. We have been working very closely with members of the REACH panel to ensure that their vision is realised.
	On 3 December 2008 Communities and Local Government launched the National Black Role Model Programme, and announced the names of the 20 National Role Models. These individuals are now working as champions of the programme, engaging at a national level and spearheading the work. The Role Models are being supported by the Windsor Fellowship, an organisation with very strong links to the black community at a grass roots level whom we are now funding to deliver the Role Models Programme.

Fire Services

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the lease upon each regional fire control centre commenced; on what date rent started to be paid on each lease; and on what date each centre began operations.

Sadiq Khan: The information requested is set out in the following table, broken down by region.
	
		
			  Region  Lease commencement date  Rent commencement date 
			 North East 6 June 2007 13 April 2008 
			 East Midlands 6 June 2007 20 January 2008 
			 South West 22 August 2007 15 February 2008 
			 West Midlands 31 December 2007 4 October 2008 
			 North West 8 July 2008 1 January 2009 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 8 July 2008 14 April 2009 
			 East of England 8 October 2008 21 April 2009 
			 South East 12 June 2008 14 November 2008 
			 London (projected) 26 February 2010 26 November 2010 
		
	
	The buildings are undergoing a fit out programme at present to bring them into a fully operational state. No regional control centre has yet begun operation. The current schedule for cut over was set out in the answer given to the hon. Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) on 11 December 2008,  Official Report, columns 248-50W, setting out the revised cut over schedule.

Homes and Communities Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many times the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor bodies have provided her Department with confidential advice, as referred to in the management statement, in each of the last three years.

Margaret Beckett: The predecessor bodies for the Homes and Communities Agency were English Partnerships, the (investment arm of the) Housing Corporation, and the Academy for Sustainable Communities. A range of departmental programmes also transferred to the Agency from Communities and Local Government.
	The only reference to the provision of confidential advice in a Framework Document or management statement of the Homes and Communities Agency or one of its predecessor bodies is found in the management statement of the Housing Corporation.
	However, given the volume of correspondence between the Housing Corporation and Communities and Local Government, specific pieces of advice that were given in confidence in accordance with the management statement over the last three years cannot be identified without disproportionate cost and effort.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Open Market Homebuy equity loan redemptions there were in each of the last three years.

Margaret Beckett: The following table sets out the number of Open Market HomeBuy equity loan redemptions (both full and partial), and the number of shared owners increasing their equity shares in their homes, for each of the last three years for which figures are available. No breakdown is available between equity loan redemptions and redemptions by shared owners.
	
		
			  Financial year  Number 
			 2005-06 1,265 
			 2006-07 1,704 
			 2007-08 1,678

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how much was allocated to each region from the National Affordable Housing programme in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how much she expects to be allocated to each region from the National Affordable Housing programme in each of the next three years.

Margaret Beckett: The following table shows the expenditure in each region through the Homes and Communities Agency's Affordable Housing programme for 2006-07, 2007-08 and provisional figures for 2008-09.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   2006-07  2007-08  2008-09( 1) 
			 North East 43 37 58 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 65 72 102 
			 North West 111 108 195 
			 East of England 153 191 272 
			 East Midlands 74 85 134 
			 West Midlands 97 97 198 
			 London 887 855 1003 
			 South East 374 383 427 
			 South West 114 175 236 
			 Total 1,918 2,003 2,625 
			 (1) Provisional 
		
	
	The following table shows indicative allocations for 2009-10 and 2010-11 for each region. Some of the programme is held centrally such as changes as the Growth Support (Affordable Housing) Fund, mortgage rescue and HomeBuy Direct.
	Allocations have not yet been adjusted to reflect Budget changes announced on 22 April.
	
		
			  Homes and Communities Agency Affordable Housing programme indicative regional allocations 
			  £ million 
			   2009-10  2010-11 
			 North East 65 47 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 125 94 
			 East Midlands 124 90 
			 East of England 285 205 
			 London 1,258 928 
			 South East 490 374 
			 South West 287 204 
			 West Midlands 181 144 
			 North West 206 156 
			 Not allocated to regions 550 150 
			 Total 3,571 2,392 
		
	
	Allocations for 2011-12 will be subject of the next spending review.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1542W, on the Homebuy scheme, how many properties initially marketed as a Homebuy Direct property have since been withdrawn from the scheme.

Margaret Beckett: No properties that have been marketed by developers as HomeBuy Direct properties have subsequently been withdrawn from the scheme.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many households are expected to receive assistance from the mortgage rescue scheme's  (a) shared equity programme and  (b) Government mortgage to rent programme (i) in total and (ii) as a proportion of the total number of housing repossessions in the next year.

Margaret Beckett: The £200 million Government Mortgage Rescue Scheme has been operational across the country since 1 January 2009. The scheme aims to support up to 6,000 vulnerable households in England at risk of repossession over the next two years. The scheme consists of two options, Government Mortgage to Rent and Shared Equity. The Government have not made any estimates of the number of households they expect to benefit from each of the two options of the scheme, neither do they make projections of the total number of housing repossessions. The Mortgage Rescue Scheme is demand-led, with the number of vulnerable households benefiting from each of the scheme's options dependent on the circumstances of eligible households approaching their local authority for assistance.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the mortgage rescue scheme's  (a) shared equity programme and  (b) Government mortgage to rent programme will become operational.

Margaret Beckett: The Government's Mortgage Rescue Scheme was officially launched on 16 January, following successful 'fast tracking' by around 80 local authorities in December 2008. The scheme comprises both a shared equity and a Government Mortgage to Rent option, which are dependent on an eligible household's financial circumstances and an assessment of the long-term sustainability of the rescue.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many applications for assistance under the mortgage rescue scheme have been  (a) received and  (b) approved in each local authority area; and how much has been spent under the scheme in each local authority area.

Margaret Beckett: As part of the monitoring arrangements for the Government Mortgage Rescue Scheme, headline data will be published on a monthly basis on the Department's website starting this month. We will be publishing headline data for January, February and March 2009 on 30 April 2009, as pre-announced on the UK National Statistics publication hub, after which local authority breakdowns can be made available. The date of this publication has been delayed from 21 April 2009 owing to unforeseen issues with data quality and validation.

Smoke Alarms

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of her Department's campaign to promote smoke alarm installation.

Sadiq Khan: Provisional figures show that in 2007 there were 193 accidental dwelling fire deaths in England, down 17 per cent. from the 2006 figure of 233 accidental dwelling fire deaths. This is the lowest figure for accidental dwelling fire deaths in England since 1981.
	It has been our policy for some time that smoke alarms have a vital role to play in saving lives as they provide the vital early warning of fire and therefore help people to escape. Since 1987, the Government have conducted high profile national and regional television campaigns promoting smoke alarms which have proved very successful. Ownership has increased from 9 per cent. in 1987 to the current level of 80 per cent. and we are seeking to raise it further as evidence suggests that those without alarms are often in those groups who are most at risk from fire. The Government are committed to running further smoke alarms ownership and maintenance campaigns as part of this years programme.
	Furthermore, in 2004, Communities and Local Government invested £25 million pump priming capital over four years in the Home Fire Risk Check initiative. This funding resulted in just under 2 million Home Fire Safety Checks by fire and rescue services in England, installing over 2.4 million smoke alarms. Research into the impact of the Home Fire Risk Check initiative it was responsible for 57 per cent. of the fall in accidental dwelling fire deaths. The research also concluded that the Home Fire Risk Check grant was responsible for 13,670 fewer fires and 888 fewer non-fatal casualties. The value placed on these figures showed a total benefit of £926 million to £ 1,943 million to the economy.

Travelling People: South East

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many responses the South East England Regional Assembly received to its consultation on Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Show People; how many it returned on the basis that they contained discriminatory views; on what advice that decision was taken; and who gave the Assembly that advice.

Iain Wright: The Government encourage members of the public to make views known in relation to any planning issues. However, representations must be made on material planning matters relevant to the issue being considered.
	In exercising their planning responsibilities, all public bodies must ensure that they fulfil their duties under the Race Relations Act to actively seek to eliminate unlawful discrimination and promote good race relations.
	In this case, the regional assembly, the then regional planning body, was responsible for the consultation into the partial review of the regional spatial strategy in relation to Gypsies, Travellers and travelling show people and it was the assembly that took decisions on how to treat responses.

Departmental Sick Leave

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many days sick leave were taken on average by staff  (a) in her Department and  (b) in the Criminal Records Bureau in 2008-09.

Phil Woolas: The Home Office, which comprises of headquarters, UK Border Agency, Identity and Passport Service, and Criminal Records Bureau, lost, on average, 9.29 working days per staff year to sick absence in 2008-09 financial year.
	11.31 average working days per staff year were lost to sick absence in the Criminal Records Bureau during the same period.

Driving Under Influence

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1519W, on driving under influence, what factors underlie the period of time elapsed between the collection of statistics on the number of breathalyser tests by month and region and the publication of that data; and by what date she expects the 2008 data to be published.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 24 April 2009
	Until 2006, breath tests data had been collected and published by the Ministry of Justice as a part of the 'Motoring offences and Breath Tests Statistics' publication. The Home Office has taken over this work, and data for 2007 are due to be published on 30 April 2009 as a part of the Home Office National Statistics bulletin "Statistics on Police Powers and Procedures—England and Wales 2007". This bulletin contains a wide-range of statistics, all of which require data to be submitted from police forces. Data then has to be quality assured before publication.
	From 2008 onwards, statistics on breath tests will be reported to the Home office annually (broken down by month) to ease the burden on police forces.
	Previously, they had reported monthly for an annual publication.
	The publication date for 2008 breath tests data has yet to be announced.

Hezbollah

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 2 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1319W, on Hezbollah, if she will place in the Library a copy of the review of Hezbollah.

Vernon Coaker: Reviews for the purposes of proscription draw on sensitive intelligence material. It is therefore not possible to place a copy of the review of Hezbollah in the Library.

National Policing Improvement Agency: Recruitment

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2009,  Official Report, column 822W, on the National Policing Improvement Agency: vacancies, how many of the vacancies were advertised on the public part of the Civil Service Recruitment Gateway.

Vernon Coaker: 164 vacancies were advertised on the Civil Service Gateway.

National Policing Improvement Agency: Recruitment

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2009,  Official Report, column 822W, on the National Policing Improvement Agency: vacancies, what the  (a) job title and  (b) salary range of each of the vacancies was.

Vernon Coaker: It is not possible to recapture the data as at 21 January 2009, which was provided in the answer of 29 January 2009,  Official Report, column 822W. It is estimated that there were 344 vacancies around the end of January 2009. The job title and salary range for the 344 vacancies is provided in the table.
	
		
			  Job  t itle  Salary r ange 
			 Business Support Administrator £15,026 - £20,685 (national) 
			 Security Officer x 2 £18,671 - £22,149 (London) 
			 Administrator, Design and Development £15,026 - £20,685 (national) 
			 Quality Assurance Administration Officer £15,026 - £20,685 (national) 
			 NCALT Immersive Learning Office Administrator £15,026 - £20,685 (national) 
			 Training Registration Officer £15,026 - £20,685 (national) 
			 Administration Officer NCMP £15,026 - £20,685 (national) 
			 Accounts Payable Transactions Officer £15,026 - £20,685 (national) 
			 Procurement and Contract Assistant £15,026 - £20,685 (national) 
			 Planning Administrator x 2 £15,026 - £20,685 (national) 
			 Project Support Admin x two (1 London and one National) £15,026 - £20,685 (national) 
			  £18,671 - £22,149 (London) 
			 Receptionist x two (one London and one National) £15,026 - £20,685 (national) 
			  £18,671 - £22,149 (London) 
			 Customer Service Standards Officer £15,026 - £20,685 (national) 
			 Centre Support Officer £15,026 - £20,685 (national) 
			 Admin Clerk temporary £15,026 - £20,685 (national) 
			 Scanning Clerk £15,026 - £20,685 (national) 
			 PA to Head of Commercial and Procurement £22,817 - £32,194 (London) 
			 Policy Assistant £22,817 - £32,194 (London) 
			 Ten-Print Identification Officer £22,817 - £32,194 (London) 
			 PA to Chief Technology Unit £22,817 - £32,194 (London) 
			 IT/AV Admin Support £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 Administrative Support Officer £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 Identification Administrator £22,817 - £32,194 (London 
			 Service Desk Analyst x two (1 London and one National) £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			  £22,817 - £32,194 (London 
			 Assistant Crime Analyst x 6 £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 Administrative Support Officer to Regional Team £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 PA to Head of Technology Product Management Unit £22,817 - £32,194 (London) 
			 Office Manager £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 Assistant Crime Analyst £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 PA to the Head of Examinations and Assessment £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 Implementation Support Officer £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 Project Support Officer x 2 £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 PA to Service Director £22,817 - £32,194 (London) 
			 QA and Accreditation Administrator x two £22,817 - £32,194 (London) 
			 Central Support Team Officer £22,817 - £32,194 (London) 
			 Training and Business Support Administrator £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 Training Support Officer £22,817 - £32,194 (London) 
			 Publishing Co-ordinator £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 Admin and Finance Officer £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 Marketing Assistant £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 PA to ACC Head of Operations £22,817 - £32,194 (London) 
			 Administrative Officer £22,817 - £32,194 (London) 
			 Doctrine Coordination Assistant £17,808 - 24,725 (national) 
			 PA to Head of RAI Unit £22,817 - £32,194 (London) 
			 Procurement and Contract Assistant £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 Health and Safety Co-ordinator £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 Financial Accounting Officer £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 Transport Officer £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 Senior Transactions Officer £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 HR Recruitment Administrator x 3 £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 Centre Support Officer £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 Health and Safety Officer £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 Payable Clerk £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 Filing Clerk x two £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 HR Administrator £22,817 - £32,194 (London) 
			 PA to the Chairman and three Directors £22,817 - £32,194 (London) 
			 First Line Manager, Examinations and Assessment x five £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 Trainee Psychologist, Examinations and Assessment x three £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 Reprographics Support Assistant £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 Procurement and Commercial Assistant £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 SAP Programme Team Administrator £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 Customer Support Assistant - Part time £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 Customer Support Assistant - Full time £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 Estates Programme Officer Administrator £17,808 - £24,725 (national) 
			 Procurement and Commercial Assistant - Police National Database £25,104 - £38,117 (London) 
			 Learning Programmes Evaluator £21,949 - £30,906 (national) 
			 Project Support Officer £21,949 - £30,906 (national) 
			 IDENT1 Monitoring Specialist £25,104 - £38,117 (London) 
			 Field Support Manager £21,949 - £30,906 (national) 
			 Programme Information Officer £25,104 - £38,117 (London) 
			 Forensic Policy Support Officer x 2 £25,104 - £38,117 (London) 
			 Programme Support Specialist £25,104 - £38,117 (London) 
			 National Tactical Support Team Member £21,949 - £30,906 (national) 
			 Change Analyst £25,104 - £38,117 (London) 
			 Technical System Administrator x 2 £25,104 - £38,117 (London) 
			 PentiP Implementation Officer £25,104 - £38,117 (London) 
			 Training Design Officer x 2 £21,949 - £30,906 (national) 
			 Project Support Officer £25,104 - £38,117 (London) 
			 Policy Advisor x 4 £25,104 - £38,117 (London) 
			 Policy Advisor £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 Training Business Support Manager £21,949 - £30,906 (national) 
			 Training and Development Officer x two £21,949 - £30,906 (national) 
			 International Assistant Operations £21,949 - £30,906 (national) 
			 Quality Assurance and Evaluation Officer £21,949 - £30,906 (national) 
			 Training Design Officer x 7 £21,949 - £30,906 (national) 
			 Communications Officer £25,104 - £38,117 (London) 
			 Online Editor/Publisher £25,104 - £38,117 (London) 
			 Online Editor/Publisher Supervisor £25,104 - £38,117 (London) 
			 Analyst £21,949 - £30,906 (national) 
			 Marketing and Communications Officer x two £25,104 - £38,117 (London) 
			 Health and Safety - Bramshill £21,949 - £30,906 (national) 
			 SAP Business Support Analyst £21,949 - £30,906 (national) 
			 Asst Human Resources Business Partner £25,104 - £38,117 (London) 
			 HR Recruitment coordinator x two £21,949 - £30,906 (national) 
			 Customer Service Standards Manager £21,949 - £30,906 (national) 
			 Organisation Development Consultant £21,949 - £30,906 (national) 
			 Estates and Service Delivery Health and Safety Co-ordinator £25,104 - £38,117 (London) 
			 SAP Analyst £25,104 - £38,117 (London) 
			 Diversity and Human Rights Officer £21,949 - £30,906 (national) 
			 Legal Researcher £21,949 - £30,906 (national) 
			 Performance and Compliance Manager, Examinations and Assessment x 2 £21,949 - £30,906 (national) 
			 Psychologist, Examinations and Assessment x four £21,949 - £30,906 (national) 
			 Senior Legal Researcher £21,949 - £30,906 (national) or Inspector 
			 PA to Senior Business Advisor £22,817 - £32,194 (London) 
			 PA to Chief Officer and Service Director £22,817 - £32,194 (London) 
			 Assistant to Head of HR £22,817 - £32,194 (London) 
			 PA to Chief Technology Unit £22,817 - £32,194 (London) 
			 Data Migration Analyst x 4 £22,817 - £32,194 (London) 
			 Administrative Support Officer £22,817 - £32,194 (London) 
			 Finance Administrator £22,817 - £32,194 (London) 
			 Forensic21 Administrator £22,817 - £32,194(London) 
			 Events Assistant £22,817 - £32,194(London) 
			 Business Support Officer x 2 £22,817 - £32,914 (London) 
			 DNA Policy Officer £25,104 - £38,117 (London) 
			 Police Liaison Officer £25,104 - £38,117 (London) 
			 Business Advisor £25,104 - £38,117 (London) 
			 Systems Developer £25,104 - £38,117 (London) 
			 Senior Analyst Programmer x three £25,104 - £38,117 (London) 
			 Training and Business Support Officer £25,104 - £38,117 (London) 
			 Facilities Manager £25,104 - £38,117 (London) 
			 Finance Manager - IMPACT x 2 £25,104 - £38,117 (London) 
			 SAP Training and Contract Support £25,104 - £38,117 (London) 
			 Business Advisor £25,104 - £38,117 (London) or Inspector 
			 Procurement and Commercial Officer - category management - National or London base £27,300 - £38,633 (national) 
			  £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 Procurement and Commercial Manager - Bus. Development - e business- National or London base £27,300 - £38,633 (national) 
			  £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 Procurement and Commercial Officer - Bus. Development - National or London base £27,300 - £38,633 (national) 
			  £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 Procurement and Commercial Officer - Major Projects x six - National or London base £27,300 - £38,633 (national) 
			  £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 Procurement and Commercial Officer - Security and Counter Terrorism £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 Procurement and Commercial Officer - PND £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 Procurement and Commercial Officer- Bus development £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 Procurement and Commercial Officer - (SRM) £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 Procurement and Commercial Officer - Estates and Facilities x two £27,300 - £38,633 (national) 
			 International Forensic Officer £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 Identification Specialist (Fingerprint Expert) x 2 £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 Technical Liaison Officer £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 Business Change Officer - Forensic21x 7 £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 3rd Line Citrix Engineer £27,300 - £38,633 (national) 
			 CAS Forensic Specialist £27,300 - £38,633 (national) 
			 Senior Capacity Planning Specialist Manager £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 TPMU Product Accreditation Manager £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 Senior Crime Analyst £27,300 - £38,633 (national) 
			 Preventing Violent Extremism Trainers £27,300 - £38,633 (national) 
			 Higher Psychologist £27,300 - £38,633 (national) 
			 Lead Developer £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 Covert Learning Programme Imaging Specialist £27,300 - £38,633 (national) 
			 NCALT Project Manager £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 Covert Training Manager £27,300 - £38,633 (national) 
			 Senior Press Officer x 2 £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 Implementer x two £27,300 - £38,633 (national) 
			 Senior Analyst x 2 £27,300 - £38,633 (national) 
			 Implementer - MoPI £27,300 - £38,633 (national) 
			 Field Support Officers x 3 £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 Research Officer x 4 £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 Community Safety Partnership and Engagement Advisor £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 Business Development Manager £27,300 - £38,633 (national) 
			 Private Secretary to Director £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 Project Manager, Examinations and Assessment £27,300 - £38,633 (national) 
			 Higher Psychologist, Examinations and Assessment x 4 £27,300 - £38,633 (national) 
			 Administrator, Examinations and Assessment x 11 £27,300 - £38,633 (national) 
			 Regional Co-ordinator for the Special Constabulary x 8 £27,300 - £38,633 (national)/Chief Inspector 
			 Neighbourhood policing Delivery Manager £32,230 - £46,359 (London)Chief Inspector 
			 Manager of Intelligence Skills £27,300 - £38,633 (national)/Detective Chief Inspector 
			 Senior Analyst £32,230 - £46,359 (London)/Inspector 
			 Research and Development Officer £27,300 - £38,633 (national)/Inspector 
			 Office Manager £27,300 - £38,633 (national)/Sergeant 
			 Covert Training Manager £27,300 - £38,633 (national)/Sergeant 
			 Senior Business Analyst £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 Oracle Development DBA £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 Technical Architect £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 Instructional Designer £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 E-learning Developer £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 E-learning Producer £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 E-Learning Instructional Designer £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 Project Manager £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 Communications Security and Interoperability Engineer £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 Lead Systems Developer £32,230 - £46,359 (London) 
			 Deputy to Head of Police Science and Forensics £43,440 - £61,812 (London) 
			 Procurement and Commercial Manager - Category Manager x three £43,440 - £61,812 (London) 
			 Procurement and Commercial Manager - Operations £43,440 - £61,812 (London) 
			 Procurement and Commercial Manager Bus development x two £43,440 - £61,812 (London) 
			 Senior Forensic Pathology Officer £43,440 - £61,812 (London) 
			 National Accreditors x 2 £43,440 - £61,812 (London) 
			 Policy and Compliance Manager £43,440 - £61,812 (London) 
			 IT Systems Architect £43,440 - £61,812 (London) 
			 Business Analyst £43,440 - £61,812 (London) 
			 Forensic Pathology Development Manager £43,440 - £61,812 (London) 
			 PentiP Implementation Team Manager £43,440 - £61,812 (London) 
			 Product Manager £43,440 - £61,812 (London) 
			 National Strategy for Police Information Systems Custody and Case Programme Business Liaison Manager £43,440 - £61,812 (London) 
			 Communications Manager £43,440 - £61,812 (London) 
			 Strategic and Business Improvement Analyst x two £43,440 - £61,812 (London) 
			 Senior Research Officer £43,440 - £61,812 (London) 
			 Communications Manager £43,440 - £61,812 (London) 
			 Internal Communications Manager £43,440 - £61,812 (London) 
			 Senior Research Officer x two £43,440 - £61,812 (London) 
			 Business Development Manager £43,440 - £61,812 (London) 
			 Head of Security and Business Continuity £43,440 - £61,812 (London) 
			 SAP Functional Lead £43,440 - £61,812 (London) 
			 SAP Technical Architect £43,440 - £61,812 (London) 
			 SAP Functional Lead (Finance) £43,440 - £61,812 (London) 
			 National PNC Business Development Partner £43,440 - £61,812 (London) 
			 Crime Scene Investigator £43,440 - £61,812 (London) 
			 Network Specialist £43,440 - £61,812 (London) 
			 Programme Office Manager £43,440 - £61,812 (London) 
			 SAP Training and Communications Manager £43,440 - £61,812 (London) 
			 Fingerprint Instructor Secondment £43,440 - £61,812 (London) 
			 Principal Analyst £43,440 - £61,812 (London)/Superintendent 
			 Strategic Co-ordinator £43,440 - £61,812 (London)/Superintendent 
			 Chief of Staff - ICTS £43,440 - £61,812 (London)/Superintendent 
			 Principal Research Officer - Knowledge Management £56,216 - £79,552 (London) 
			 TDA Lead £56,216 - £79,552 (London) 
			 Principal Research Officer Risk £56,216 - £79,552 (London) 
			 Senior Procurement Manager ( PND) £56,216 - £79,552 (London) 
			 Senior Procurement Manager - Supplier Relationship - (SRM) £56,216 - £79,552 (London) 
			 National Accreditation Manager £56,216 - £79,552 (London) 
			 Software Engineering and Business Analysis Manager £56,216 - £79,552 (London) 
			 Programme Manager £56,216 - £79,552 (London) 
			 Senior Project Manager NBC £56,216 - £79,552 (London) 
			 Principal Research Officer - Efficiency/Productivity £56,216 - £79,552 (London) 
			 Information Risk Manager £56,216 - £79,552 (London) (London) 
			 Head of Leadership Programmes £60,060 - £82,416/Deputy Chief Constable 
			 Programme Director, ISIS Programme £76,440 - £88,597 (London) 
			 Chief Technology Officers £76,440 - £88,597 (London) 
			 Head of Finance £76,440 - £88,597 (London) 
			 Head of Operations, PPP Assistant Chief Constable 
			 Police Liaison Officer Chief Inspector 
			 International Policing Adviser Chief Inspector 
			 Field Officer x 3 Chief Inspector 
			 Field Officer - CF and NPP Chief Inspector 
			 Deputy Head of Unit Chief Superintendent 
			 PC Operational Planning Constable 
			 Senior Policing Advisor to the CIO Deputy Chief Constable 
			 High Tech Crime Training Course Manager x two Detective Constable 
			 Regional Co-ordinator (West Midlands) Detective Inspector 
			 Business Advisor x 2 Detective Sergeant 
			 Crime Investigation Support Officer Detective Sergeant 
			 Field Support Officers x 2 Inspector 
			 Staff Officer to Independent Reducing Bureaucracy Advocate Inspector 
			 Police Expert—Intelligence Inspector 
			 PC/Sgt Public Order x two Sergeant 
			 Operations Advisor Sergeant 
			 Airwave User Assurance Co-ordinator Superintendent 
			 Firearms Gold Command Training Superintendent 
			 Impact Stakeholder Engagement and Events Manager Superintendent

British Council: Contracts

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2009,  Official Report, column 778W, on British Council: finance, whether any of the projects funded under the Reconnect programme are being delivered by subcontractors.

Caroline Flint: None of the projects under the British Council Reconnect programme (funded under the additional £6 million total over the triennium 2008-09 to 2010-11) have been delivered by subcontractors in 2008-09. The British Council did use some external facilitation and research support for its Active Citizens programme in 2008-09 but does not have any present plans to engage subcontractors this year (2009-10).

China: Human Rights

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters were raised at the recent meeting which took place in the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue process; and what the position was of the Chinese delegation on each of those matters.

Bill Rammell: The seventeenth round of the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue was held in London on 12-13 January 2009. This comprised of one day of talks and visits to a psychiatric detention facility and disability centre run by the Leonard Cheshire Foundation. The delegation also met a group of MPs from the China All-Party Parliamentary Group.
	The formal talks were held with representatives of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, United Front Works Department, Supreme People's Court, Ministry of Public Security, State Council Information Office, and the China Disabled Persons' Federation. We discussed recent human rights developments in China, the drafting of the first Chinese human rights action plan, the ratification of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, Tibet, co-operation with international human rights mechanisms, including the Universal Periodic Review, UN Special Rapporteurs, the Universal Convention Against Torture Committee and the UN Human Rights Council, the use of the death penalty, Rule of Law issues including administrative detention, Xinjiang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea border-crossers, and the freedoms of religion, expression and association. Detailed discussions were held on the role of the prosecutor, and a separate workshop, which included representatives of British non-governmental organisations, covered disability rights and mental health issues. We also raised more than 50 individual cases of concern. The following day the Chinese delegation visited a secure mental health unit and disability centre in London.
	Given the nature of the discussions, it would not be appropriate to comment in detail on the Chinese position on each issue. We maintain close official-level contact with parliamentarians and key non-governmental associations involved in human rights in China and discuss our dialogue with them.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many special advisers were employed in his Department at each pay band on 30 November 2008; and what his Department's total expenditure on special advisers was in 2007-08.

Gillian Merron: The Government are committed to publishing an annual list detailing the number and costs of special advisers. Information for 2007-08 was published by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 22 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 99-102WS.

European Union: Civil Servants

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK-based staff of the EU offices of the devolved administrations are registered with a Belgian mutual health insurance provider.

Gillian Merron: All 18 UK-based officers, accredited to the devolved administrations as diplomats, are registered to the Belgian Partena Mutuelle.

European Union: Civil Servants

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which UK-based staff of the EU offices of the devolved administrations are responsible to the UK Permanent Representative to the EU for their personal conduct, listed by  (a) grade and  (b) administration represented.

Gillian Merron: The number of UK-based staff, of the EU offices of the devolved administrations, responsible to the UK Permanent Representative to the EU for their personal conduct, by grade and administration, are:
	
		
			  Scottish Executive Office 
			   Staff 
			 SCS 1 
			 Grade 6 2 
			 Grade 7 1 
			 HEO 2 
			 Total 6 
		
	
	
		
			  Northern Ireland Executive Office 
			   Staff 
			 SCS 1 
			 Grade 7 2 
			 HEO 1 
			 Total 4 
		
	
	
		
			  Welsh Assembly Government Office 
			   Staff 
			 SCS 1 
			 Grade 7 4 
			 HEO 2 
			 EO 1 
			 Total 8 
			  Note: Grades are listed against their Cabinet Office equivalent.

Flags

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on  (a) Union flags and  (b) flags of other nations in each of the last five years.

Gillian Merron: The total identifiable expenditure by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in each of the last five years is as follows:
	Flags purchased for internal use at conferences, official events, etc.
	
		
			  £ 
			 2004 2,876 
			 2005 7,140 
			 2006 2,559 
			 2007 2,088 
			 2008 9,099 
		
	
	A breakdown of this expenditure between Union flags and flags of other nations is not held centrally and providing this information would incur disproportionate cost.
	In addition to this, in 2008 £1,694.54 was spent on Union flags and £995 was spent on other nations flags for external use at FCO buildings. Before 2008 a contractor was used to provide a flag raising service. This included supplying flags as required.

Gaza: Smuggling

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on steps taken by the government of Egypt to reduce trafficking of weapons and people into Gaza; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We are extremely concerned with the smuggling of arms and people into Gaza. We are currently working with the Government of Egypt and our international partners on ways to help prevent smuggling.

Government Departments: Wines

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the estimated value of alcoholic beverages in the Government Wine Cellar is; and how many bottles of  (a) wine,  (b) beer,  (c) spirits and  (d) other alcoholic beverages are held in the Government Wine Cellar.

Gillian Merron: The most recent available valuation of the Government Hospitality wine cellar places the current value of the stock at approximately £792,000.
	The cellar contains approximately 39,500 bottles, of which fewer than 500 are spirits or liqueurs. Small quantities of beer are bought on an ad hoc basis; it does not form part of the cellar stock.

Iran: Drugs

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what counter-narcotics assistance the UK has provided to Iran in each financial year since 2000; what assistance is planned in 2009-10; and if he will provide a breakdown of the expenditure by category of  (a) projects supported and  (b) costs.

David Miliband: Between the financial years 2000-01 and 2008-09 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has spent approximately £3,025,000 on counter narcotics assistance in and with Iran.
	Our funding has contributed to a mix of supply and demand reduction projects such as:
	Training drug enforcement agencies on border management and intelligence sharing.
	Supply of mobile drugs detection units for anti-narcotics police.
	Donation of IT equipment and training for intelligence analysis.
	Training and funds to Iranian NGOs involved in the treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts.
	Most of the funding has been channelled through the UN's Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for capacity building on Iran's eastern border and improving investigative capability. Some equipment has been provided through UNODC and bilaterally.
	No specific assistance is currently agreed for 2009-10 but we are looking for ways to continue our work with Iran on counter narcotics.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions there were between the Government and  (a) the Israeli Government,  (b) President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority and  (c) representatives of Hamas on the situation in Gaza between 28 December 2008 and 5 January 2009.

Bill Rammell: We have been in regular contact with both the Government of Israel and Palestinian Authority, including during this period the Prime Minister speaking to the Israeli Prime Minister and Palestinian President.
	There was no contact with Hamas. We do not believe it is productive to talk to Hamas until it makes significant movement towards the Quartet principles of rejecting violence, accepting Israel's right to exist and recognising previous agreements.
	The Arab League has mandated Egypt to communicate with Hamas. We are in regular contact with both the Arab League and Egypt. Turkey, Syria, Qatar and others are also speaking to Hamas.

Palestinians: Human Rights

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration he has given to the report of the United Nations Human Rights Council's Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territories concerning the Israeli attack on Gaza from 27 December 2008 to 18 January 2009; if the Government will review its obligations under the Geneva Conventions and other relevant aspects of international law as a consequence; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We are extremely concerned with the current situation in Occupied Palestinian Territories and throughout the conflict in Gaza called for an immediate ceasefire.
	We have called for allegations of abuse to be thoroughly investigated. The report of the UN Human Rights Council's Special Rapporteur is unbalanced and contributes little. We are awaiting the results of several ongoing investigations into alleged human rights violations during the Gaza conflict and will consider very carefully the results of these investigations once they are available.
	We continue to press the Israeli government to abide by all its international commitments, including its obligations under the fourth Geneva convention which makes clear that an occupying power must co-operate in allowing allow free movement of people, humanitarian supplies and commercial goods.

Rashid Rauf

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Office was informed of the suspected death of Mr Rashid Rauf from a US air strike in the village of Ali Khel on 21 November 2008.

Bill Rammell: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, including the Foreign Secretary's office, first learned of the suspected death of Mr. Rauf from initial media reports coming out of Pakistan.

Rashid Rauf

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received confirmation of the death of Mr Rashid Rauf in the US air strike on the village of Ali Khel on 22 November 2008.

Bill Rammell: We do not have confirmation of the death of Rashid Rauf. Following a request from his family, we have requested official confirmation from the Government of Pakistan.

Russia: BBC External Services

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate the BBC World Service has made of the number of people in the Russian Federation with internet access who  (a) use the BBC Russian.com website and  (b) are likely to use the website in each of the next five years.

Caroline Flint: The latest available figures are from January 2009, and estimate that the number of unique users of BBCRussian.com in the Russian Federation was on average 247,000 per week. However, we would therefore expect this number to increase.
	Research shows that the number of internet users in Russia continues to grow, and that by the end of 2008 Russia had overtaken the UK as the second largest internet market in Europe. The BBC World Service regularly reviews the performance of all its websites, but predictive performance estimates of websites in individual countries are not available in this fast-changing environment.

Somalia: Piracy

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 1 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1281W, on Somalia: piracy, whether the UK has put forward proposals on building capacity and capability in the region to prosecute pirates; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The international Contact Group for Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) met in Cairo on 17 March 2009. The UK, as the chair of the Contact Group working group on international co-ordination and co-operation, asked for its mandate to be expanded to include regional capability development, given the importance of this work to a sustainable solution. This was agreed. As a result, and in co-ordination with key international organisations and partners, a UK-led needs assessment mission will be visiting the region in April/May to assess requirements in the judicial, penal and maritime security (Coastguard/naval) sectors. The mission will report back to the Contact Group via its working group as soon as possible, seeking funding support for the areas it assesses as priorities.

Tamils: Cluster Bombs

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the alleged use of cluster bombs by the Sri Lankan authorities against Tamils.

Bill Rammell: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Enfield North, (Joan Ryan), on 19 January 2009,  Official Report, column 1176W.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how long on average his Department took to process claims for assistance under the Support for Mortgage Interest scheme with 100 per cent. of eligible mortgage interest in 2008; what the average was in the period immediately prior to 5 January 2009; and what it has been since that date;
	(2)  how many applications for support under the Support for Mortgage Interest scheme have been received in each of the last 24 months.

Kitty Ussher: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions asking how long on average his Department took to process claims for assistance with 100% of eligible mortgage interest; what the average was in the period immediately prior to 5 January 2009; what it has been since that date; and how many applications for support under the Support for Mortgage Interest scheme have been received in each of the last 24 months. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Jobcentre Plus does not capture the average processing time for claims for assistance with 100% of eligible mortgage interest. What is recorded is the average clearance time for the processing of our benefits, for example Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) and Income Support (IS). Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) is not a separate benefit but rather forms an integral part of the benefits such as JSA and IS. The customer may not be eligible to claim SMI from day one of their claim and as a result that element will be processed later in the life of that claim. This is why we do not capture the clearance time.
	Jobcentre Plus does record the actual number of claims received for SMI, by benefit type. Please find attached this information for each of the last 24 months.
	No data on Employment and Support Allowance will be released until the first set of official statistics have been published in the Summer.
	
		
			  Claims received for mortgage interest, report ending February 2008 and 2009, Jobcentre Plus 
			  mortgage interest 
			   2007-08  2008-09 
			   IS claims received  JSA claims received  IS claims received  JSA claims received 
			 March 3,923 2,181 2,479 1,690 
			 April 3,780 1,834 5,013 2,220 
			 May 4,065 2,168 2,335 2,090 
			 June 3,706 1,992 2,401 2,109 
			 July 3,598 2,020 2,946 2,481 
			 August 3,808 2,022 2,408 2,224 
			 September 3,965 2,001 2,583 2,662 
			 October 2,891 2,266 3,182 2,805 
			 November 3,612 2,317 2,479 2,855 
			 December 2,744 1,580 1,930 2,654 
			 January 3,560 2,500 2,083 3,727 
			 February 3,750 2,203 2,099 3,224 
			 12 month total 43,402 25,084 31,634 30,741

State Retirement Pensions

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received on transitional measures for people who will reach the state pension age before 6 April 2010 and are not affected by the reduction in the number of years' employment required to qualify for a state pension.

Rosie Winterton: We are regularly engaged in discussion with stakeholders about the pensions system and pensions reform.
	Following representations, the Government introduced legislation in the Pensions Act 2008 which will help people, particularly women and carers, who have recently reached or are approaching state pension age and who have gaps in their national insurance records to improve their basic state pension.
	The measure will allow those who reach state pension age between 6 April 2008 and 5 April 2015 to purchase voluntary class 3 national insurance contributions for up to an additional six years from 1975, provided they already have 20 qualifying years (taking into account home responsibilities protection).
	The measure, which came into force on 6 April 2009, will help to mitigate the potential differences in outcomes for people reaching state pension age either side of 6 April 2010.

Tickets: Touting

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent steps the Government has taken to combat ticket touting.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport issued a consultation on ticketing and ticket touting running from 19 February 2009 to 15 May 2009. The consultation appears on its website:
	www.dcms.gov.uk
	Government will consider any steps needed after the end of the consultation period.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2009,  Official Report, column 198W, on departmental official hospitality, how much his Department spent on hosting events in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: The following table shows the expenditure recorded by the Northern Ireland Office, excluding its Agencies and Executive NDPBs, in relation to events it has hosted in the last five years:
	
		
			  Financial year  Expenditure on hosting events (£) 
			 2007-08 161,924 
			 2006-07 190,580 
			 2005-06 114,388 
			 2004-05 n/a 
			 2003-04 n/a 
			 n/a = Not available. 
		
	
	The Department records expenditure on hosting events within a general hospitality expenses heading. Since 2005-06, a separate database has been introduced to capture the details and costs of events hosted by the Northern Ireland Office. However, the provision of costs prior to 2005-06 would require a manual investigation of the hospitality expenses heading which could be carried out only at disproportionate cost.
	The events include Royal Garden Parties and receptions hosted at Hillsborough Castle, which acknowledge the contribution made by a wide range of people to life in Northern Ireland. These include representatives from the voluntary and business sectors and also the police and armed forces.

Elderly

David Howarth: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent estimate he has made of the number of people likely to reach the state pension age before 6 April 2010.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question asking what recent estimate has been made of the number of people likely to reach the state pension age between now and 6 April 2010.
	The number people projected to reach state pension age in the United Kingdom between 22 April 2009 and 6 April 2010 is 660 thousand.
	This estimate is derived from the 2006-based national population projections for the United Kingdom, published in October 2007.

Members: Correspondence

Anthony Steen: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Totnes of 25 February 2009 asking for a meeting of voluntary organisations involved in human trafficking to discuss headquarter grants from the Voluntary Service Unit.

Kevin Brennan: holding answer 19 March 2009
	 A response has been sent to the hon. Member.

Bus Services: Concessions

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many local authorities have informed his Department that the cost of providing concessionary bus fares under the national scheme was greater than the funding provided to them for that purpose by central government in 2008-09.

Paul Clark: I am aware of the concerns of some local authorities regarding the allocation of concessionary travel special grant funding. Around 30 authorities, out of a total of nearly 300, have written to the Department for Transport to express their concerns. However, the bulk of funding for concessionary travel is not delivered by special grant, but through the formula grant process.
	The Government are confident that sufficient funding is available, in total, to fund statutory concessionary travel. Some authorities' analysis of their own funding arrangements can also misrepresent the true picture. Funding for concessionary travel is not separately identified within formula grant, so it is not possible to identify how much authorities receive specifically for providing concessionary travel. It is also the responsibility of authorities to ensure that operators are truly left no better and no worse off as a result of concessionary travel. Authorities should consider whether the new England-wide concession means that their existing reimbursement arrangements need to be reviewed.

Bus Services: Concessions

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which local authorities in England have withdrawn  (a) companion bus passes for those accompanying (i) deafblind and (ii) other disabled people and  (b) peak travel entitlement since 1 April 2009.

Paul Clark: It is not known which local authorities in England have withdrawn companion passes or concessionary travel at peak times since 1 April 2009. The Government are responsible for the statutory minimum concession that all travel concession authorities (TCAs) are required to provide. TCAs have discretion to enhance their concessionary travel schemes at their own expense. These can give residents concessionary travel beyond the statutory times or extend eligibility to other groups of people such as companions. Any decision to change these discretionary elements is entirely a matter for individual TCAs.
	The Department for Transport undertakes a biennial survey of TCAs, asking for details of their concessionary bus fares schemes for older and disabled people. The most recent results, to 30 June 2008, are published in Chapter 4 of the Public Transport Statistics Bulletin GB: 2008 edition. A copy is in the Library of the House.

Car Sharing

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to encourage car sharing;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of  (a) the savings in carbon dioxide emissions attributable to car sharing in the last year for which figures are available and  (b) the potential future annual savings attributable to car sharing.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport promotes car sharing as one of a range of measures known collectively as 'smarter choices' or as part of a workplace or other travel plans. They are aimed at helping people travel in a more environmentally friendly way. In addition, the travel information service Transport Direct provides links to car sharing organisations and car clubs. The department has also recently provided funding to Carplus so that they can continue to promote, develop and support car clubs and developed their car sharing website elements to support the promotion of car sharing. High occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes are being trialled on the M606/62.
	Because smarter choices relies on a package of measures, it is hard to disaggregate which measure produce which results, and the department does not currently produce either of the carbon dioxide estimates requested.

Government Borrowing

Brooks Newmark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the level of UK Government borrowing compared with those in other OECD economies.

Angela Eagle: Global economic developments will have a profound effect on the fiscal positions of most countries. The OECD published their Interim Economic Outlook on 31 March 2009, which forecast the UK deficit to be 9.3 per cent. of GDP in 2009.

Business Confidence

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the likely effects on levels of business confidence of the measures proposed in his Budget statement.

Angela Eagle: The Chancellor received a number of representations from a variety of organisations before the Budget statement on Wednesday 22 April. As was the case with previous administrations, it is not the Governments practice to provide details of all such representations.

World Bank Fund

John Pugh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what commitments the Government made to the World Bank fund for the world's poorest countries at the G20 summit.

Ian Pearson: The UK's contribution to the 15th replenishment of the International Development Association will be £2.134 billion for the three years 2008-09-2010-11.
	The London summit of G20 leaders set out a clear plan for assisting the poorest countries through the global crisis. Leaders: reaffirmed their commitment to meeting the Millennium Development Goals and achieving Official Development Assistance pledges; made $50 billion available to low income countries—this includes the World Bank Rapid Social Response Fund to which the UK is contributing £200 million; agreed the IMF should double confessional lending access limits and capacity to increase support to low income countries; agreed to review the flexibility of the Debt Sustainability Framework; and called on the UN to establish a mechanism to monitor the impact of the crisis on the poor.

Employment

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the likely effects on levels of employment of the measures proposed in his Budget Statement.

Stephen Timms: Treasury Ministers and officials receive representations from a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such representations. Taken together, the total policy support for the UK economy since last October is expected to support up to half a million jobs.

Public Sector Debt

Mark Harper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the level of public sector net debt per household in each of the next three years.

Yvette Cooper: The Government set out its fiscal projections in the Budget report 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter of 5 March 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, on Sarah Louise Harold.

Stephen Timms: I replied to the right hon. Member on 27 April.

Carbon Monoxide: Departmental Coordination

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the last interdepartmental meeting at which issues relating to carbon monoxide were discussed and attended by members of his Department was held; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The most recent meeting of the Health and Safety Executive-led Officials Group on Gas Safety and Carbon Monoxide Awareness was held on 5 September 2007 and was attended by Departmental officials.

Departmental Freedom of Information

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answers of 1 July 2008,  Official Report, column 862W and 1 September 2008,  Official Report, column 1675W, on departmental freedom of information, if he will place in the Library a copy of the information provided on each topic in respect of which the request was  (a) agreed to and answered in full and  (b) agreed to and answered in part since July 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Electricity: Health Hazards

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has  (a) commissioned,  (b) undertaken and  (c) evaluated on the effects of electro-magnetic fields on (i) public health, (ii) the health of those under the age of 18 and (iii) the health of the elderly population in the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department has commissioned, either directly or through the Health Protection Agency (HPA), research on the effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) in the following areas:
	exposure to radiofrequency fields including from mobile phones, base stations, terrestrial trunked radio (TETRA) and WiFi;
	studies to examine the potential cellular and behavioural effects of radiofrequency fields;
	measurement of exposures to power frequency fields for population studies;
	laboratory studies of the effects of power frequency fields on cells; and
	development of realistic three dimensional (voxel) models for male, female, and pregnant female, to allow assessment of exposures from electromagnetic field sources at various frequencies.
	The Department's Radiation Protection Research (RPR) programme mainly covers ionising radiation research topics, but it also includes research on EMF. Information on the current RPR programme research strategy and research projects can be found on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_082096
	A copy has been placed in the Library.
	The independently managed Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research (MTHR) programme, jointly funded by Government and industry has supported a number of studies into the possible health effects of radiofrequency technology relating both to base stations and hand-held mobile phones. The MTHR programme published its first report in September 2007. None of the 23 individual studies reported under this programme to date demonstrates that biological or adverse health effects are produced by radiofrequency exposure from mobile phones or base stations. Ongoing studies include a case control study of cancer incidence in early childhood and proximity to mobile phone base stations.
	The MTHR programme management committee recognised that some concerns still remain and proposed a further programme of work. Three studies in this second phase are under way. Details of all MTHR projects can be found on the MTHR website at:
	www.mthr.org.uk
	The Department additionally has provided an annual contribution to the World Health Organisation International Electromagnetic Fields Project since its inception in 1996. Information on this project can be found at:
	http://www.who.int/peh-emf/project/en/
	The Department has not commissioned any research specifically on the effects of EMF on the health of elderly people.
	The HPA's Radiation Protection Division keeps the relevant research publications under continual review largely through its Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation and provides advice on electromagnetic fields and health to government and the general public at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/

Mental Health: Unemployment

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to tackle mental health disorders associated with unemployment; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment has been made of the link between mental health disorders and rising rates of unemployment; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: There are clear links between unemployment and poor mental health and well being. That is why in November 2007, my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Health and the Secretary of State for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) asked Dame Carol Black, National Director for Health and Work, to lead the development of a national strategy for mental health and employment. The strategy will help to ensure a co-ordinated approach across government to the challenges faced by people of working age with mental conditions and improve their employment prospects. The strategy development is being overseen by representatives from the business, medical and academic worlds and will be published later this year.
	Further, on 8 March 2009, my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Health and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions announced an additional 13 million to support a package of measures to help people who are distressed, depressed or anxious as a result of the economic downturn. These measures include a greater provision of talking therapies and a new network of employment support workers.
	This extra money will build on the 4 million DWP initiative in which employment advisors are already working in 12 of the 35 new talking therapy services to help people keep their jobs if their mental health has put them at risk.

Obesity: Children

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children were  (a) overweight and  (b) obese in the last period for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available in the form requested.
	Information on the proportion of children aged 2 to 15 in England that are overweight or obese, broken down by age is collected by the Health Survey for England.
	This information can be found in tables 8.2 on page 236 of Health Survey for England 2007: Volume 1 lifestyles: knowledge, attitudes and behaviour, which was published on 16 December 2008. This publication has been placed in the Library.
	Further information on the proportion of children that are overweight or obese in England is also collected through the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP). The NCMP report provides high-level analyses of the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children, in Reception year (aged four-five years) and Year 6 (aged 10-11 years), measured in England in the school year 2007-08.
	This information is available in the National Child Measurement Programme: 2007/08 school year, headline results which was published on 11 December 2008. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among children in England is shown in table 1 of the NCMP 2007-08 data tables. This publication has already been placed in the Library.

Prescriptions

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 26 January 2009,  Official Report, column 252W, on prescriptions, which primary care trusts have a procedure to report errors relating to the prescribing and supply of drugs to the National Patient Safety Agency.

Phil Hope: The information is not held centrally. The National Patient Safety Agency encourages the reporting of patient safety incidents which are submitted on a voluntary basis from national health service organisations including primary care trusts.

Economic Situation

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, column 404W, on the economic situation, which energy and oil ministers attended the meeting hosted by his Department on 18 and 19 December 2008.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 24 April 2009
	The following Ministers attended the London Energy Meeting on 18 and 19 December 2008:
	Algeria: Dr. Chakib Khelil, Minister for Energy and Mining
	Angola: HE Eng Jose Maria Botelho de Vasconcelos, Minister for Petroleum
	Australia: The hon. Martin Ferguson AM MP, Minister for Resources and Energy
	Azerbaijan: HE Natig Aliev, Minister of Industry aid Energy
	Bahrain: HE Abdul Hussain Ali Mirza, Minister for Oil and Gas
	Brazil: HE Edison Lobao, Minister for Mines and Energy
	Canada: Ms Lisa Raitt MP, Minister of Natural Resources
	Germany: Jochen Homann, State Secretary, Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology
	India: Shri Marli Deora, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas
	Iran: HE Gholamhossein Nozari, Minister for Petroleum
	Iraq: HE Hussain al-Sharistani, Minister for Petroleum
	Italy: Mr. Claudio Scajola, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry
	Japan: Mr. Toshihiro Nikai, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry
	Kuwait: HE Muhammad Abdullah al-Aleem, Minister of Oil
	Libya: Dr. Shokri Ghanem, Chairman, National Oil Company of Libya
	Nigeria: Dr. Odein Ajumogobia, Minister for Pstroleum
	Oman: Dr. Mohammad bin Hamad al-Ruhmy, Minister for Petroleum and Gas
	Poland: Mr. Waldemar Pawlak, Vice-Premier and Minister for Economy
	Qatar: HE Abdullah Bin Hamad al-Attiyah, M:nister of Energy and Industry
	Saudi Arabia: HE Ali I al-Naimi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources
	South Africa: Ms Buyelwa Sonjica, Minister of Minerals and Energy
	Spain: Mr. PeDr.o Marin, Minister of Energy
	The Netherlands: Ms Maria van der Hoeven, Minister of Economic Affairs
	UAE: HE Obeid bin Saif al Nassiri, Minister o f Petroleum and Mineral Resources
	United Kingdom: The Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, and the Minister of State, DECC (Mr. Mike O'Brien).
	USA: Mr. Jeffrey Kupfer, Deputy Secretary for Energy

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to reply to the letter of 10 February 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr T Bannister.

Mike O'Brien: I understand the office of my right hon. Friend has now had a response.

Renewable Energy: Finance

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Wealden of 26 February 2009,  Official Report, column 931W, on renewable energy, when he plans to begin the consultation on feed-in tariffs.

Mike O'Brien: In July 2009.

Care Proceedings

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many care orders have been  (a) sought and  (b) granted in each month in 2009 to date.

Bridget Prentice: The following table shows the number of care orders applied for, and the number of care orders made, in January and February 2009 in England and Wales. Figures for March 2009 are not yet available, as the centrally-held data is not yet complete.
	The figures relate to the number of applications and orders counted by child. This means that if an application or order relates to two children then it will be counted twice. The figures cover the family proceedings courts and county courts, but exclude the small proportion of cases dealt with in the High Court (in 2007 the High Court received 3.1 per cent. of all care order applications in England and Wales, and made 3.4 per cent. of all care orders).
	Research undertaken on behalf of the Ministry of Justice has identified that some cases transferred from a family proceedings court (FPC) to a county court have been incorrectly identified as new applications made to the county court. This may therefore inflate the number of reported applications.
	
		
			  Number of care orders applied for, and number of care orders made, in county courts and family proceedings courts in England and Wales during January and February 2009 
			   Applications made  Orders made 
			 January 1,226 366 
			 February 1,369 467 
			  Note: These figures are provisional, subject to updates made on the FamilyMan database.  Source: This information is taken from the HMCS FamilyMan database and manual returns sent in by FPCs. High court activity is not counted

Reoffenders: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many people were charged with offences whilst under the supervision of the probation services in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) Hertfordshire in the last (i) six months, (ii) year and (iii) five years;
	(2)  how many offenders re-offended while on probation in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) Hertfordshire in the last five years.

David Hanson: The number of offenders that were charged with offences while being supervised by the probation service is not available. This is because the extract of the police national computer held by the Ministry of Justice does not provide comprehensive coverage of charges. Data relating to the offending of offenders under probation supervision is based on proven reoffendingoffences which have led to a conviction or a caution.
	The measure of reoffending used to provide National Statistics for England and Wales is not broken down by area. However, newly published data on local adult reoffending (a different measure of reoffending to the national statistics) is broken down by probation area and local authority (upper tier only).
	Because the data are not broken down below the upper tier of the local authority area level there are no figures available for Hemel Hempstead.
	The number of offenders used to calculate the local reoffending rate for the Hertfordshire probation area between 1 October 2007 and 30 September 2008 is 10,229 and the reoffending rate is 7.93 per cent.
	The local measure measures the reoffending of all offenders on the probation caseload, aged 18 or over, at a certain point in time (a snapshot), while the national measure covers all offenders commencing a court order under probation supervision or released from custody during the first quarter of the year. Additionally, the local measure allows a three month period for reoffences to be committed, while the national measure allows a year.
	The local reoffending figures are produced by aggregating the data of four snapshots of the probation caseload. Therefore the number of offenders quoted above is approximately four times the number of offenders on the case load at any one time.
	A reoffending rate of 7.93 per cent. with a case load size of 10,229 does not mean that 811 different offenders committed a reoffence, as some offenders may have appeared in more than one cohort and reoffended more than once.
	It should be noted the probation supervision of some offenders may end during the period while their reoffending is being monitored. Therefore some reoffences may be committed after probation supervision has finished.
	For further details please see Local reoffending results 1 October 2007-30 September 2008 England and Wales available at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/docs/local-adult-reoffending-oct07-sept08.pdf
	This is the first time that reoffending data at the local level has been made available.

Building Colleges for the Future Programme

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the answer of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, column 656W, on further education: finance, from which further education colleges he has received representations on the Learning and Skills Council's list of colleges affected by changes to its capital spending programme.

Si�n Simon: I have met and had correspondence with a large number of MPs and college principals and I will be continuing this dialogue. The nature of the contact to date has been to discuss individual concerns rather than specifically regarding the Learning and Skills Council's list of colleges affected by changes to its capital spending programme.
	We are aware that there are other colleges that will be at various stages of preparing their capital proposals. The response from the LSC in connection with the earlier question makes clear that some smaller projects were not included as they did not require national approval. Some colleges are also still submitting applications for approval in principle so the list will be subject to change.

Building Colleges for the Future Programme

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills which Minister in his Department had responsibility for the further education capital programme in 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Si�n Simon: Ministers are responsible for determining and monitoring the implementation of broad policy and to hold the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to account for delegated responsibilities. Effective implementation is the role of the LSC.
	My right hon. Friend (Bill Rammell) was Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education up until October 2008, during which time the further education capital programme was within his remit. When my right hon. Friend left the Department in October, in my role as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Further Education, I took over in leading on the further education capital programme.

Higher Education: Admissions

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  if he will recalculate the higher education initial participation rate for each year between 1999-2000 and 2005-06 using the same methodology as that used to produce the figures for 2007-08 issued on 31 March 2009;
	(2)  what discussions his Department had with  (a) higher education institutions,  (b) bodies representing higher education institutions and  (c) the UK Statistics Authority prior to the methodological change made to the calculation of the higher education initial participation rate for 2007-08.

David Lammy: The Statistical First Release published on 31 March estimated the Higher Education Initial Participation rate using a new methodology. The new method checks that an entrant aged 18 to 30 has not had more than six months' previous experience of higher education using data matched back over 12 years (10 years for FE colleges). As the SFR explained, 2007/08 is the first year that this has been possible using 12 years of matched data. However, in order to provide some time series comparison, and to demonstrate the impact of this change, the 2006/07 figure was also re-calculated using one fewer year of matching, as it was estimated that the missing 12(th) year would make little difference to the rounded figure.
	The figures published in the SFR provide a robust basis for monitoring progress in future years. Earlier years' figures based on the old methodology were also given. Estimates for earlier years using the new methodology would be progressively less accurate, since fewer years' data are available to check for previous experience of higher education, and so they were not included in the SFR. However, it is possible to calculate such estimates with an assessment of the possible scale of the bias. Additional estimates for earlier years, alongside information on how to interpret them and compare them to the existing published trend, will be added as an appendix to the published SFR on 15 May.
	Following National Statistics procedures, the SFR release is timed to allow a minimum of time between production and release of the HEIPR, and prior access to the unpublished statistics is restricted. The change to the methodology was developed at a late stage in the publication process to resolve emerging concerns about the quality of the data. DIUS analysts consulted with HEFCE statisticians prior to release to confirm the robustness of the old and new methodologies. Given the fact that a robust alternative methodology was implementable in the time available, a decision was made by analysts to publish within the pre-announced timescale. In the interest of transparency, clear descriptions for the new methodology were shown within the SFR and figures for 2006/07 based on both the old and new methodologies were also provided.

Broadband: Rural Areas

Anne Milton: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what plans he has to improve the telecommunications infrastructure in rural areas to extend the provision of high speed broadband.  [Official Report, 14 May 2009, Vol. 492, c. 15MC.]

Patrick McFadden: The Budget confirmed the Government's plans to deliver a Universal Service for broadband up to 2 Mbps by 2012. This will allow virtually everyone to benefit from broadband services. The Budget also underlines the Government's commitment to helping business take full advantage of the opportunities offered in this area by announcing a review of Ofcom's powers and duties to ensure it can strike the right balance between supporting competition and encouraging investment. As you are aware, Universal Service and Next Generation Access are also key aspects of the Digital Britain report, which will be published shortly.
	The Government will also be carrying out research on broadband 'Not spots' under the cross-Government paper Delivering Digital InclusionAn Action Plan for Consultation with the objective of putting information into the hands of local communities to enable them to manage the risks, and realise the opportunities of Next Generation Access locally and regionally, where they identify a need and want to activate their own solutions. This will also cover the devolved Administrations of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Business: Carbon Emissions

Howard Stoate: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what  (a) practical support and  (b) funding opportunities are available to small and medium-sized businesses seeking to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide they emit.

Joan Ruddock: I have been asked to reply.
	Government provide a range of support to help small and medium businesses reduce their carbon emissions. These include:
	 (a) Practical support, in particular through the Government-funded Carbon Trust (CT), which provides advice via its website, specific web tools, publications, an advice line and face-to-face surveys for smaller business; and advice through Business Link (www.businesslink.gov.uk), and the regional development agencies. We are working to improve ease of access to this support via Business Link as part of the Solutions for Business programme.
	 (b) The Carbon Trust administers two schemes which provide financial support for small and medium-sized businesses to make energy efficient investments: an interest free loan scheme for investments in energy efficient equipment, and the Enhanced Capital Allowance scheme which provides businesses that invest in designated energy efficient equipment with enhanced tax relief. The Chancellor announced an additional 100 million of investment for the loan scheme in the April 2009 Budget.

Civil Servants

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the  (a) job title,  (b) main responsibilities,  (c) Civil Service pay band and  (d) annual salary of (i) Jez Sagar, (ii) Will Parkes, (iii) Peter Power, (iv) Stephen Adams and (v) Fiona Cookson are; whether each receives any payments from other sources; and whether the post filled by each was advertised externally.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 24 April 2009
	Jez Sagar is a communications consultant working on a project to coordinate economic communications across government departments. Stephen Adams is employed on a one year fixed term contract as Strategy and Policy Adviser to the Secretary of State. Fiona Cookson has been appointed deputy head of news. Peter Power is Press Secretary to the Secretary of State seconded to the civil service on a one year fixed term from the European Commission. We do not release details of individual salaries. The EC makes good Peter Power's salary to EC level. No one else named receives payment from any other source. All have been appointed in accordance with the Civil Service (Amendment) (No 2) Order in Council 2008 which regulates recruitment into the Civil Service.
	Will Parkes is not a BERR employee but is seconded into Government on a two month fixed term placement to share knowledge end expertise of the private sector.
	These are all civil servant not special adviser posts.

Departmental ICT

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many  (a) printers and  (b) multi-function devices with printing functions were in use in each division of his Department and its predecessor in each of the last five years; how many such devices had a function enabling two-sided printing; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: Over the last five years the Department has significantly rationalised its printer estate in parallel with reducing the number of buildings it occupies. The majority of printers are located in shared ICT bays rather than by division to ensure optimum use. All have duplex printing facilities. The number of printers in current use is 688 of which 95 have multi function facilities. Greater use of multi function printers will be considered at the next contractual refresh point under the Department's PFI agreement with Fujitsu who supply the printers.

Holiday Leave

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the annual cost to businesses of the increase in the annual statutory holiday entitlement from 24 to 28 days.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 24 April 2009
	In its election manifesto, the Government proposed an extension to the statutory entitlement to four weeks' paid holiday required under the EU Working Time Directive, making it additional to the number of bank holidays in England and Wales. This ensures all workers are entitlement to a minimum of 28 days holiday a year.
	The extension was implemented in two phases to help small and medium businesses. The second phase extended the right from 24 to 28 days holiday a year. The cost to business of this second phase was estimated at between 1.8 and 2.4 billion. The estimated cost to business and benefit to workers comes from the Department's full impact assessment. As part of this assessment, the Department conducted a paid annual leave survey that showed the lowest paid; including part-time employees, women and those from ethnic minorities would benefit most from the increase in holiday entitlement.

Members: Correspondence

Andrew Selous: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he plans to respond to the letters from the hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire of 13 February 2009 and 3 March 2009 on his constituent Mr Simon Cavendish.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 24 April 2009
	I responded to the hon. Member on 21 April 2009. I apologise for the delay.

Postal Workers

John Cummings: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment has been made of the level of risk of anthrax infection to workers in Royal Mail postal sorting offices arising from terrorist action; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: Central government departments and the emergency services work closely with Royal Mail to ensure that effective procedures and measures are in place for managing the risk to the company's staff and operations and to members of the wider public from chemical or biological agents in the postal system. Royal Mail ensures that the Communication Workers Union (CWU) and Unite are actively involved in the development and introduction of procedures and measures in support of its response capability.

Union Modernisation Fund

Francis Maude: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1407W, on the Union Modernisation Fund, if he will place in the Library a copy of the action record of each of the decisions taken by the Supervisory Board to date.

Patrick McFadden: The records of decisions taken by the Union Modernisation Fund Supervisory Board will not be placed in the Libraries of the House because they contain commercially-sensitive information about unsuccessful bids. The results of successful bidders are published on the BERR website at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/employment/trade-union-rights/modernisation/page16097.html

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the costs his Department incurred as a result of the Public Bill Committee on the Apprenticeship, Skills, Children and Learning Bill sitting beyond 6.30 pm on 26 March 2009.

Si�n Simon: I have been asked to reply.
	The total estimated cost to the Department was 2,279.97. This comprised 1,423.03 to cover additional travel and accommodation expenses, and 856.94 in discretionary payments to officials who attended the session.